Nations and society: ethnic diversity in Kenya

In Essential Reading in Comparative Politics, an article from The Economist discusses the cause of war in terms of ethnic diversity. “In multi-ethnic societies where one group forms an absolute majority, the risk of war is 50% higher than in societies where this is not the case” (The Economist, Essential Readings in Comparative Politics 80). The Kukuyu ethnic group, which makes up approximately 20% of the population of Kenya, is the dominant group, although the Luo clan closely rivals it. However, according to the East Africa Living Encyclopedia from the University of Pennsylvania, the Kikuyu have by far the most representation in public life, government and business, while the Luo have traditionally been traders and artisans (http://www.africa.upenn.edu/NEH/kethnic.htm). The founder of Kenya, a Kikuyu, Jomo Kenyatta, led the independence movement and became the first president. Kikuyus have dominated Kenyan politics ever since. The current president, Mwai Kibaki, is also a Kikuyu, while his challenger, Raila Odinga, is a Luo. The violence that broke out as a result of the disputed election was based not on a preexisting ethnic hatred, but on the rivalry that has existed since 1963, when one ethnic group took control of the government when Kenya achieved independence. The elections in December 2007 represented for the Luos “a chance to share in the spoils after watching several generations of leaders sidelined, marginalized or even slain,” according to an LA Times article by Edmund Sanders written shortly before the elections (http://www.ethiomedia.com/access/kenyan_democratic_muscle.html). When the Luos did not receive the desired change as a result possible corruption, violence ensued. This scenario is a repeat of many similar conflicts in other African countries, and is explained by Paul Collier in an article on ethnic diversity. “Ethnic dominance might be a sufficiently compelling grievance factor that it affects the risk of conflict…the structural permanence of this condition, and the inability of democracy to resolve it, may make organized violence more likely” (Essential Readings in Comparative Politics 98). For this reason, the newest development in the political situation to rewrite the constitution and change the government structure so that power is more shared is a step in the right direction. For Kenya to function, the Kikuyu group cannot retain the political dominance it has held for so long.